Baby Love, #2

As noted in a previous post, Baby Love #1, I had not ever knitted baby gifts until last summer. And as noted in a previous post, Fiber Snob, I am no longer a fiber snob after taking a Faire Isle knitting class where we made hats from store-bought yarns. So now I think I can make baby gifts. :^) 

These pictures are of baby gift 2 and baby gift 3, both Faire Isle hats for ~ a 9-12 month old, hopefully. The purple one is for a little girl, my only sister's only daughter's new baby. Her baby was born in April. The greenish teal hat is for a dear friend's yet-to-be-born baby boy. 

The yarn I chose was Cascade Yarns, 220 Superwash Sport, which is obviously sport weight. It is 100% Superwash Merino and is wonderfully soft. I love it. The colors are white, wistera (I think) and maybe dark aqua. But if you go to the link above or search elsewhere on-line, you will find a wealth of colors from which to choose. 

The color pattern I used in class was a copyrighted pattern, but I later began using this one and I really like it. It is especially cute on baby hats - and it's pretty nice on adult hats, too, like, say, mine. So I thought I'd share what I did in case anyone wants to make one or several, too. For the girl hat I used a braid edging which I think is pretty easy to find on line, like at this site. The one I used was actually part of the copyrighted pattern so I'm hesitant to post it but the link is about the same thing. If you have questions, or want to know how mine is done, ask in the comments section and I can accommodate you.  

So for both hats I used 12" circular (which are mighty short) needles, sizes 4 and 6. I cast on 92 stitches on the #4's and did the edging, either the *braid* or the *K2 P2 rib for 6 rounds*. Of course, use a stitch marker or small ponytail band to show where the rounds start. 

When the edging was finished I switched to the number 6 needles and during the first row of the body (which is a solid row of the MC [Main Color]), I made a stitch 4 times, evenly spaced out, making 96 stitches. (The main part of the color chart needs to be divisible by 6 but the top 2 sections of the color chart [the little 'v's'] need to be divisible by 12.  

( I changed the very top section of this chart in the actual hats. What I did in the hats was the same as the very first section of the color chart except the first and fourth rows of that section being the MC instead of the CC [Contrasting Color]). I'm sorry for any confusion - if anyone needs it, I can get you the right chart representation. But the chart as it reads works well, too.

After the first row of the chart (which is that increase row) continue on with the chart. After the last row of the chart, begin the crown decreases as such: 

NOTE: Change to dpns (dividing sts evenly between 3 needles) when there are too few sts to work with circular needle. And the crown will be done entirely in MC, so leave a 8" tail of CC and cut before beginning directions below.

Rnd 1-  *k6, k2tog; rep from * around

Rnd 2 and all even rounds, knit around

Rnd 3-  *k5, k2tog; rep from * around

Rnd 5-  *k4, k2tog; rep from * around

Rnd 7-  *k3, k2tog; rep from * around

Rnd 9-  *k2, k2tog; rep from * around

Rnd 11- *k1, k2tog; rep from * around

Rnd 13- *k2tog around

When finished, leave at least an 12" tail, thread the yarn through the remaining stitches (I usually go around the remaining stitches several times, tightening as I go, to make a strong, tight "tip-top".)  Then weave in all the ends. 

I always block these hats loosely on a balloon (don't stretch the ribbing or braid by a balloon that's too tight) and VOILA - you have an adorable baby hat. 

Let me know if you want to make one and my post was entirely too confusing. I'm sure I can straighten it all out!!!  :^)

And below you will find an adorable newborn in her adorable new hat - meant for her to wear next winter. The little boy's excited family has just a few more days to wait. 

Adorable!

Don't 'cha just want to kiss those baby cheeks?